Sitka Alaska Cruise Port Guide: free shuttle reality, Totem Park & private whale watching
Sitka PortRoyal Caribbean Cruise LineScenic Cruise LineNorwegian Bliss Cruise ShipOvation of the Seas Cruise Ship
Planning a cruise stop in Sitka, Alaska? Today, Eric & Fam continue their takeover of The Roaming Twins channel as we dock at the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal aboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas! In this Sitka cruise port guide and vlog, we walk you through everything you need to know before you get off the ship—including the truth about the free Sitka shuttle bus reservations, terminal food prices, and walking distances. We spend the morning exploring the incredible totem poles in the rainforest at Sitka National Historical Park, grab reindeer chili cheese dogs and shop in downtown Sitka, and then head out on an unforgettable small-group private whale watching tour with Coastal Tours Sitka, where we see humpback whales bubble-net lunge feeding right next to our boat! 🐋 BOOK THE WHALE WATCHING TOUR WE DID: 👉 Coastal Tours Sitka (via Viator): https://www.ctsitka.com/ ⏱️ VIDEO CHAPTERS & TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro & Arriving at Sitka Sound Cruise Port 01:48 Getting Off Ovation of the Seas & Pier Walk 03:00 Sitka Cruise Terminal Shops, Restrooms & Food Prices 04:28 Free Sitka Shuttle Bus: Do Reservations Actually Matter? 05:35 Scenic Shuttle Ride to Downtown Sitka (Local History & Tips) 12:18 Arriving at Harrigan Centennial Hall & Downtown Map 13:12 Walking to Sitka National Historical Park & Salmon Hatchery 15:21 Exploring the Rainforest Totem Poles (Sitka Totem Park) 20:54 Inside the Totem Hall, Native Art & Carving Demonstrations 22:45 Reindeer Chili Cheese Dogs & Downtown Sitka Souvenir Shopping 26:19 Boarding Our Small-Group Boat Tour (Coastal Tours Sitka) 27:00 Up-Close Steller Sea Lions on the Buoy 28:23 Searching Sitka Sound for Whales in the Fog 30:02 Sea Otters & First Humpback Whale Breaches! 31:55 Humpback Whales Bubble-Net Lunge Feeding Next to the Boat! 35:13 Returning to the Cruise Port & Shuttle Line Warning 36:33 Honest Sitka Port Review: Weather, Walking & Downtown Shopping 39:05 Coastal Tours Sitka Review (Small Boat vs. Big Ship Excursions) 41:09 Crucial Tip: Afternoon Shuttle Bus Wait Times & Gangway Rush 44:10 Why an Alaska Cruise Balcony Room is 100% Worth It (Bald Eagles!) 💡 TOP SITKA CRUISE PORT TIPS FROM OUR DAY: • The Cruise Terminal is about 7 miles outside of downtown Sitka. The shuttle bus into Harrigan Centennial Hall is FREE. • While they tell you to pre-book a shuttle time slot, everyone was funneled into the same line—and be sure to budget at least 30+ minutes for the return shuttle line before all-aboard when multiple large ships (like Ovation of the Seas and Norwegian Bliss) are in port! • Walking from the downtown shuttle drop-off to Sitka National Historical Park (Totem Park) is an easy, mostly flat 10–15 minute scenic walk along the water. • Pack waterproof jackets and waterproof pants! Sitka averages over 100 inches of rain a year. 💬 MADE IT TO THE END? Drop "A rainy day in Sitka" in the comments below so we know you're part of the fam! If this port guide helped you plan your Alaskan cruise, please hit that LIKE button and SUBSCRIBE for more cruise vlogs and port guides! #SitkaAlaska #AlaskaCruise #OvationOfTheSeas #SitkaCruisePort #WhaleWatching #RoyalCaribbean #CruiseVlog #TheRoamingTwins #AlaskaExcursions #SitkaTotemPark